Cuba
repeats Sydney final resultAthens,
Greece, August 16, 2004 – Sydney Olympic champions Cuba
repeated their gold medal winning performance against
Russia with a stirring 3-2 (26-24, 19-25, 25-27, 25-19,
15-13) victory on day two of the women’s Volleyball
competition at the Peace and Friendship Stadium on
Monday.
In what was a superb encounter of exhilarating quick
play matched with dynamism and athleticism Cuba
eventually claimed the victory to open their account in
Pool B after suffering a shock loss to Germany on the
opening day.
The result was a mirror image of the Sydney Olympics
where the two teams contested a 3-2 (20-25, 25-21,
21-25, 25-12, 15-12) match in the Preliminary Round in
favour of Russia before Cuba claimed victory in the
final with another stunning five-set (25-27, 32-34,
25-19, 25-18, 15-7) performance.
With the top four teams in each pool qualifying for the
quarterfinals Italy, Brazil and China are now the only
teams to maintain a perfect record following their
second victories on Monday.
China sit alone at the top of Pool B after the World Cup
title holders followed up Saturday’s 3-1 win over USA
with a 3-0 (25-20 25-16 25-16) victory over the winless
Dominican Republic. USA and Germany, along with Russia
and Cuba, have one win apiece after USA beat Germany 3-1
(25-22, 25-22, 22-25, 27-25) in another thrilling
evening game.
Meanwhile, Italy and World Grand Prix champions Brazil
lead Pool A with two wins from two matches after the
world champions comfortably beat Japan in straight sets
25-16, 25-13, 25-17 while Brazil started the day’s
action with a less than impressive 3-0 (25-16, 29-27,
25-12) win over Kenya.
Korea collected their first win of the tournament with a
3-1 (20-25, 25-19, 25-15, 25-22) win over hosts Greece
leaving only Kenya and Japan as the only teams in Pool A
to still win a match.
The second day of the men’s competition resumes on
Tuesday with a Pool A match between Tunisia and
Argentina starting proceedings at 09:00. The other men’s
matches see France play Serbia and Montenegro, Australia
take on Russia, USA play the Netherlands, Greece host
Poland and in a repeat of the World League final, Brazil
play Italy in the last match of the day.

Cuba
beat Russia in fascinating thrillerAthens,
Greece, August 16, 2004 – Two of the most successful
teams in the history of women’s Volleyball completed a
match reminiscent of the Sydney 2000 final with Cuba
triumphing in a five-set thriller. The result was a
mirror image of the Sydney Olympics where the two teams
contested a 3-2 (20-25, 25-21, 21-25, 25-12, 15-12)
match in the Preliminary Round in favour of Russia
before Cuba claimed victory in the final with another
stunning five-set (25-27, 32-34, 25-19, 25-18, 15-7)
performance.
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Italy
dominates JapanATHENS, 16 August - World champions Italy proved too
strong for a gallant Japanese side claiming their Pool A
match 3-0 (25-16, 25-13, 25-17) at the Peace and
Friendship Stadium.
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China too much for Dominican RepublicATHENS,
16 August - World number three China took just one hour
and eight minutes to easily sweep past the Dominican
Republic in straight sets in the Pool B encounter at the
Peace and Friendship Stadium here Monday.
More

Brazil
collects second win with straight set victoryATHENS, 16
August - Brazil made it two wins from two in Pool A with
a dominate performance over Kenya on the first match of
the second day of the women's Volleyball competition at
the Peace and Friendship Stadium.
More

Repeat
of Sydney's final feature match on Day TwoATHENS,
15 August – Olympic title favourites Brazil takes on
Kenya in the opening match on the second day of the
Women’s Volleyball tournament on Monday, and anything
other than a straight-sets victory for the Brazilians
would be a big surprise.
The ‘Celecao’ is looking to double their victory tally
in Pool A, while Kenya will be hoping to take as much as
they can out of a match expected to be of most benefit
to the South Americans.Pic: Brazil beat Japan 25-21, 25-22, 25-21 on the
opening day
The big winner on the opening day, China, is the heavy
favourite in the Pool B match-up against Dominican
Republic, at 11:00.
After their first match against Brazil, Japan will have
the difficult job to face Italy at 14:00. The latter are
seeking their second win that will keep them at the top
of Pool A.
The well-balanced match between Greece and Korea is
scheduled at 16:00. The hosts will fight for their
second win in Pool A, which would be a big step toward
the quarterfinals, while Korea will try the same thing
to improve their own hopes for a spot in the top eight.
At 19:30 all eyes will be on the surprise team on the
opening day, Germany when it goes head-to-head with the
world’s number one, the United States. The latter will
try to overcome Saturday’s defeat at the hands of China.
The main course of day will be served at 21:30 when
defending Olympic champions Cuba, who suffered a
shock-defeat by Germany in the opening match on
Saturday, will come face-to-face with their Sydney final
opponents Russia.
ONS sk/sad